Flooding Information

Last week’s storms and flooding have caused significant damage to many homes and businesses throughout the greater Milwaukee area. North Shore residences have been hit particularly hard, as sewer overflows have flooded area homes with untreated wastewater and caused millions of dollars in damage. As I speak with constituents across my district, and observe the aftermath of these storms, it is obvious we must do all we can to provide vital assistance to help speed recovery efforts.

Governor Doyle declared a state of emergency in Milwaukee County last week, which directs the State to assist local communities in repairing the damage caused by these storms. While I applaud his efforts to divert state resources to aid efforts, I have urged Governor Doyle to also aggressively seek federal disaster aid. In turn, Wisconsin Emergency Management submitted an application for federal assistance from FEMA this morning after receiving updated damage assessments, and FEMA has indicated that they will be in Wisconsin early next week. However, an assessment by FEMA is necessary to determine whether or not the flooding qualifies for federal assistance.

As our residents and local communities continue to work to clean up damaged property, I look forward to working to ensure that our community is able to recover as quickly and efficiently as possible. In the meantime, I will be meeting with local officials and community members to discuss recovery efforts and offer any assistance that I am able to provide. I will also continue to work with local, state, and federal officials to bring federal aid to the Milwaukee area.

Milwaukee County Flooding Contact Information

Milwaukee County flood/storm victims should contact the phone numbers below:

City of Milwaukee

To report flood damage call 414-286-CITY (2489)

For sewer backup in home - Dept of Neighborhood Services 414-286-2268, non-business hours 414-286-2150

All Other Milwaukee Municipalities

To report flood damage call Milwaukee County 2-1-1

To report flood damage online, click here

For sewer backup in home - call local municipal Department of Public Works

For information and updates relevant to your municipality, please see the information below:

Fox Point

www.vil.fox-point.wi.us

Department of Public Works: 414.351.8900

Glendale

www.glendale-wi.org

Department of Public Works: 414.228.1746

Milwaukee

www.ci.mil.wi.us

River Hills

www.riverhillswi.com

Department of Public Works: 414.352.0080

Shorewood

www.villageofshorewood.org

Department of Public Works: 414.847.2650

Whitefish Bay

www.wfbvillage.org

Village Hall: 414.962.6690

Public Works Garage: 414.967.5128

“Storm Chasers”

Storm and flooding victims are vulnerable to scam-artists – known as “Storm Chasers” – so I encourage that people be mindful when hiring someone to do any necessary repairs. “Storm Chasers” are typically from out-of-state, have little or no background in home repair, and either charge high prices for low-quality work or disappear without doing any work.

The Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) offers the following tips when considering repairs:

• Be wary of any contractor who knocks at your door. Call the police or sheriff’s department to check them out.

• Try to get a local contractor. Ask contractors if they are subcontracting your job. Be careful if local contractors are using outside subcontractors.

• Get lien waivers from anyone you pay for home repairs. It is necessary to do this because if the person collecting the money doesn’t pay the supplier or worker, a lien could be put on your property.

• Get a written contract, with a start and completion date, and warranty information. Also make certain the contract states exactly what work is to be done and what materials are to be used. Never rely on verbal commitment.

• Contractors that register with the state are issued a card. Make sure any contractor you are considering hiring shows you their state registration card.

• Have someone watch the work being done. Ask your local building inspectors to visit your job site often.

• Request a copy of the contractor’s certificate of liability insurance.

I encourage you to contact DATCP if you have any questions about contractors via e-mail at DATCPHotline@wi.gov; on their toll-free hotline at 1-800-422-7128; or by visiting their website at www.datcp.state.wi.us.

In addition, the Milwaukee chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry has a list of qualified area contractors at the following link:

www.milwaukeenari.org/

Flooding Safety Resources

Wisconsin Emergency Management

www.emergencymanagement.wi.gov

North Shore Fire Department

http://www.nsfire.org/flood_preparedness_2010.pdf

Federal Emergency Management Agency

http://www.fema.gov/hazard/flood/index.shtm

Center for Disease Control and Prevention

www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/floods/

Insurance Claims

The Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) has offered some advice for home and business owners on insurance as it relates to severe weather insurance claims:

• Contact the company or your agent to make sure you know what is required to document the loss.

• Work with your company/agent to complete the proof of loss.

• Make temporary repairs to protect property from further damage. Keep receipts of what you paid for the temporary repairs and include it in your insurance claim. Permanent repairs must wait until the insurance adjuster has had a chance to review the damage.

• Businesses that have had losses should check to see if they have business interruption insurance, which provides coverage for the loss of net profit that would have been earned and payments for expenses that continue even though the business is not operating normally.

• When you are making repairs to your property, make sure the contractor you use is licensed and reputable.

• Contact OCI at 1-800-236-8517 for assistance if there are any questions or issues with your insurance claim.

Consumers with property insurance claims should get in touch with their insurance company or agent as soon as possible.

While flooding is not covered under homeowner's insurance, if your auto policy includes comprehensive coverage, repair of water damage to your automobile will be covered. If your automobile is damaged beyond repair, or if repairs cost more than the value of the car, an insurer will offer you fair market value for the vehicle.

OCI also strongly encourages consumers to consider purchasing a flood insurance policy through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). To find out more about flood insurance, you should visit the official NFIP Web site at FloodSmart.gov or call 1-888-379-9531.